Take care, be patient and do the right thing. It is a simple message but one cyclist Brendan Braid hopes will save lives. Fourteen months after the 58-year-old accountant was run down and left for dead on a quiet stretch of road near Helensburgh, Mr Braid is calling for a change in driver attitudes. "I'm really sorry to say this but I have met people who, whether they're joking or not, say that they hate cyclists and they drive at them," he said. "I can't believe that that could happen ... [but] I've heard from cyclist friends that there are people out there who do that. It's appalling. "If only people would be more aware of cyclists on the road [more accidents could be prevented]. "And importantly cyclists, too, should also do the right thing." The father of four was cycling south along the Old Princes Highway about 6.24am on January 5, 2014, when green P-plater Talia Jade Van-Rysewyk struck him, flinging him from his bike. Mr Braid was left helpless, bloodied and suffering multiple fractures on the side of the road. Following several bungled attempts to cover up her crime, Van-Rysewyk, 25, pleaded guilty to negligent driving occasionally grievous bodily harm and failing to stop and assist following an accident. She will be sentenced on May 21. There is no suggestion of any malice behind her actions. Mr Braid took up cycling in 2010 and immediately enjoyed the health and social benefits associated with the popular pastime. He joined the Southern Cross Cycling Club in Sutherland and became a regular fixture at organised rides. "We cycled every Saturday and Sunday morning leaving [Waratah Park at Sutherland] by 6.30am ... and we'd normally ride to Helensburgh and back, which was a two to three hour trip," he said. "There would be about six or seven of us in a group ... I always enjoyed meeting up for coffee with everyone after a ride." Mr Braid was alone on a stretch of road when he was struck but he was found by two fellow cyclists minutes later. He spent a "long period of time" in hospital following the accident, which had since "turned his whole world upside down". Mr Braid's lawyer, Matthew Berenger, said something needed to be done about the increasing number of cyclists being killed on NSW roads. "Cyclists are always going to come off second best in a collision with a car," Mr Berenger, director of LHD lawyers, said. "If that car is travelling at high speeds, a bicycle helmet is just not designed to withstand the effect of that collision. Bike lanes are a good start, but it's not practical to put them everywhere. The government needs to make sure that drivers are constantly aware of the need to look out for cyclists."

"I'm really sorry to say this but I have met people who, whether they're joking or not, say that they hate cyclists and they drive at them," he said.

"I can't believe that that could happen ... [but] I've heard from cyclist friends that there are people out there who do that. It's appalling.

"If only people would be more aware of cyclists on the road [more accidents could be prevented].

"And importantly cyclists, too, should also do the right thing."

The father of four was cycling south along the Old Princes Highway about 6.24am on January 5, 2014, when green P-plater Talia Jade Van-Rysewyk struck him, flinging him from his bike.

Mr Braid was left helpless, bloodied and suffering multiple fractures on the side of the road.

Following several bungled attempts to cover up her crime, Van-Rysewyk, 25, pleaded guilty to negligent driving occasionally grievous bodily harm and failing to stop and assist following an accident.

She will be sentenced on May 21.

There is no suggestion of any malice behind her actions.

Mr Braid took up cycling in 2010 and immediately enjoyed the health and social benefits associated with the popular pastime.

He joined the Southern Cross Cycling Club in Sutherland and became a regular fixture at organised rides.

"We cycled every Saturday and Sunday morning leaving [Waratah Park at Sutherland] by 6.30am ... and we'd normally ride to Helensburgh and back, which was a two to three hour trip," he said.

"There would be about six or seven of us in a group ... I always enjoyed meeting up for coffee with everyone after a ride."

Mr Braid was alone on a stretch of road when he was struck but he was found by two fellow cyclists minutes later. He spent a "long period of time" in hospital following the accident, which had since "turned his whole world upside down".

Mr Braid's lawyer, Matthew Berenger, said something needed to be done about the increasing number of cyclists being killed on NSW roads.

"Cyclists are always going to come off second best in a collision with a car," Mr Berenger, director of LHD lawyers, said.

"If that car is travelling at high speeds, a bicycle helmet is just not designed to withstand the effect of that collision. Bike lanes are a good start, but it's not practical to put them everywhere. The government needs to make sure that drivers are constantly aware of the need to look out for cyclists."